Salih Zeki ve Astronomi: Rasathane-i Amire Müdürlüğü’nden 1914 Tam Güneş Tutulmasına

Authors : Feza GÜNERGUN

Pages : 97-122

View : 13 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2005-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The holders of astronomical knowledge, in late nineteenth century Turkey, were rather diverse. While Ottoman officers taught astronomy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ilm-i heyet); at the Military School insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Mekteb-i Harbiye); based on translations made from European astronomy textbooks, the timekeepers insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(muvakkits); and the astrologers insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(müneccims); prepared calendars for every day use. The Rasathane-i Amire insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(lit. Imperial Observatory); founded to exchange meteorological data between European and Ottoman stations, where Salih Zeki insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1864-1921); acted as director for almost 15 years was, also an institution in which astronomical observations may have been carried out occasionally.  Salih Zeki’s interest in astronomy seems to have originated in late 1880s when he was appointed as assistant-director to the Technical Office of the Ottoman Administration of Posts and Telegraphs after his return from Paris where he had studied in the Ecole Supérieure de Télégraphie. Émile Lacoine insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1835-1899);, the technical councellor of the Ottoman Administration of Posts  and Telegraphs and the vice-director of the Imperial Meteorological Observatoy seem to have initiated Salih Zeki to astronomy and calendar computing. Salih Zeki’s published first a calendar for the financial year insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Rumi); 1308 [1892]. Then, he co-authored E.Lacoine’s Takim-i Cedid insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(New Calendar); computed for the Rumi year 1310 [1894]. He became the director to the Imperial Meteorological Observatory in 1896 following the death of its founder A. Coumbary insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1826-1896);, a position he held until 1909. Beside his administrative work in the Observatory, he compiled his two major works on the history of mathematics and astronomy, taught mathematics, physics and astronomy in Istanbul Darülfünun insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(University);. His request to explore the effects of the 1899 earthquake in Aydın was approved by the Government, but no records of this mission are presently available. Salih Zeki participated to the Conférence Internationale de l’Heure insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Paris 1913); where the Ottoman Government signed the agreement for the Establishment of the Bureau International de l’Heure and started the preparatory work for the adoption of Universal Time. Salih Zeki was commissioned by the Ministry of Education to participate to the expeditions led by European astronomers to observe the total solar eclipse in Trebizond on August 21, 1914. The actual absence of documents regarding the expeditions leads us to argue that neither Salih Zeki nor other foreign astronomers observed the total eclipse in Trebizond. Salih Zeki, besides publishing popular articles on astronomy, translated from French two textbooks: Yeni Kozmografya insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(New Cosmography, Istanbul 1915); and Muhtasar Kosmografya insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Abridged Cosmography, Istanbul 1916);. A note in Yeni Kozmografya indicates that he proposed to the Ottoman Government a project to improve the Islamic lunar calendar insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Mali/Rumi takvim);. He also edited the Avalim-i Felekiye insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Cosmography, Istanbul 1909);, a textbook compiled by H. Hagopyan based on various sources, E. Loomis insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1811- 1889); being one of them. According to Halil Ethem Eldem insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1861-1938); the museologist, Salih Zeki’s last work was the catalogue of astrolabes conserved at the Imperial Museum in Istanbul.
Keywords : Salih Zeki, astronomi, astronomi tarihi, kozmografya, Güneş tutulması, takvim, Rasathane i Amire, Hovhannes Hagopyan, Elias Loomis, Emile Lacoine